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Wieland also decides to have elbow surgery

Wieland also decides to have elbow surgery

SAN DIEGO -- Pitcher Joe Wieland has decided to have surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

Wieland, who consulted with the Padres' medical staff on Monday, said that the plan is for him to have surgery on July 31. The surgery will be performed by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lewis Yocum.

Wieland, who has been on the disabled list since May 7 with a strained elbow, said Friday that he was making inroads to returning to the mound during the first week of the month when he felt a pop in his elbow after throwing a curveball at the team's Spring Training facility in Peoria, Ariz.

"It was one pitch. It popped and I felt it. It was around the 26th or 27th pitch of my second bullpen [session]," Wieland said. "It was like nothing I have felt before. Everything was great up until that point."

Wieland, who is one of seven starting pitchers on the disabled list, was 0-4 with a 4.55 ERA in five starts before the injury. He was initially placed on the 15-day DL and was later moved to the 60-day DL.

"With Joe, I think medically he went through with the right process to get to this point," manager Bud Black said. "But when the intensity picked up, the pain occurred."